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Monaghan GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Had a look at Westmeath v Galway in full last night (season pass is a great job).
They played remarkably similar to what Monaghan would have against that opponent- totally outgunned in midfield, but tenacious scramble defence, and enough runners from deep to create space for shooters and keep the scoreboard moving. They were well beaten but ran Galway close. All very familiar! It was a case of walking wounded for them by the end - they certainly need the 7 days to recover.
A few things stood out- Sam McCartan made it all happen early on and is very dangerous, but he went missing for the second half until popping up with a crucial late score. Disciplined man marking duty with pace on him will be crucial. John Heslin is still class personified but keeping scoreable frees to a minimum will curtail his overall impact. Tadhg Baker was brilliant on turnovers and breaks playing from half back, and he can score too. Another man marking job there. Ray Connellan is another fantastic Westmeath player but ironically midfield seemed to improve when Shane Ormsby replaced him through injury. depending on Connellan's fitness I'd say you could see both starting with Brian Cooney moving to half forward the next day. Senan Baker is a big lump of a lad at full forward but Monaghan should have the man for him in Lavelle. The other point is that they look a bit vulnerable at full back.
Keys for Monaghan- first to recognise the scale of the task ahead and play like its the Leinster champions coming to town- this team has Meath, Dublin, and Cavan scalps on their belt, more then us. They have to put the doubts into Westmeath minds early. Galway eased off a very tired Westmeath on Sunday and nearly paid for it because Westmeath busted a gut to reel them in. If Monaghan do get an opportunity to stretch the scoreboard they need to be more ruthless.
Second, Mooney and Woods need to exploit potential for goals here. Both have done well this year but make the green flag work. Third, tie up Sam McCartan. Could be another 50 minute job for O'Hanlon. Connellan's availability at midfield will be crucial. McCarville can do a job there but the knock-on effects on Westmeath would be significant in that they probably lose a 3rd option from kickouts. Dylan Byrne on Heslin would be a great tussle, might be a better fit than Ryan Wylie actually.
All told, it's a brilliant fixture in prospect for both teams. I'm sure Westmeath are just as happy as Monaghan with they way it has panned out. Neither usually gets the nod in the media so the pundits will probably ignore the game altogether and just focus on the Armagh/Kerry and Dublin/Donegal games. The game will make its own importance.
Eddie the Exile (National) - 16/06/2026 10:59:20
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Football Championship 2026 - 3 Like(s)
Replying To legendzxix: "I keep saying it. The qualifiers should come back. It only takes two knockout rounds for 23 or 24 teams to playoff for the 7 or 8 league qualifiers spots, depending on how far the Tailteann goes in their province.
If the qualifiers make a return, the Tailteann just needs to go straight knockout as all teams will have played at least two games already between provincial championship and qualifying rounds." Are you joking? The championship so far has been the best in possibly two decades. The drama in the last couple of weeks has been unheard of. The current system has the right amount of jeopardy, who would have thought Roscommon would be gone already and Mayo still in? Kerry facing down Armagh winner takes all for a space in the quarters! Long may it continue.
Square_B (National) - 16/06/2026 12:52:48
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Joeynyc: "Nearly another comeback yesterday. Unfortunately not to be.
Some bad decisions cost us a better chance of winning.
Injuries catching up.
Point to make about Brandon Kelly who has been unreal the last 2 months.It was absolute criminal as to why the ball was not been given into to him, when numerous occasions, especially the first half, Was wide open. Goal just before HT pretty much killed the game.
30 seconds left Sam McCartan should never have taken that shot on. He decision making and failing to pass the ball was very noticeable yesterday. The yellow card he got sum up his day,and refusing to pass the ball costing his team any chance of winning.
Heslin 70mins head scratcher. Forde should have gotten more time .
Roll onto next week." "Show me a man who makes no mistakes and I will show you a man who doesn't do things". Theodore Roosevelt.
Sam McCartan i'm sure by his own admission, makes plenty of mistakes, but the thing is, most of the chances he gets are created by his own brilliance and hard work. To throw any sort of negative on Sam McCartan after all he has done this summer shows your own knowledge of the game is highly questionable.
Have you anything good to say here for these fantastic bunch of lads who are doing us all proud or are you just here to slate. Shame on you.
Meridian (National) - 17/06/2026 08:55:29
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Football Championship 2026 - 2 Like(s)
Replying To legendzxix: "Hmmm.
Donegal lost to Down
Meath lost to Westmeath
Mayo lost to Roscommon
Tyrone lost to Armagh
Cavan lost to Monaghan
Derry lost to Monaghan
Louth lost to Dublin
All 7 carried onto the All Ireland series regardless. No knockout playoff jeopardy to keep them honest. Down getting a shot at someone in a knockout playoff would have been interesting." You just don't get it, the AI Series is now stand alone seperate competition. For years teams in uncompetitive provinces were getting a free run to an All Ireland semi final.
No surprise where you are from in questioning the new format. Kerry for a change are having to earn their place in an All Ireland quarter final. It's now a fairer system where all teams are getting a fair crack. This years Championship is a breathe of fresh air.
Scenicparish (National) - 16/06/2026 18:21:07
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Kerry Peaking At Right Time? - 2 Like(s)
Replying To hlynch12: "Sean Se and Shane Ryan back training.Jack Barry played challenge game for the development squad last Sunday against Newcastlewest. Tom Sullivan had a small set back.Kerry will devour the Armagh kickout. CLifford brothers will clean out the Armagh backs." Incisive stuff, we will have to have a whip round, on here for your bookie. Hopefully they layed off a few to keep afloat, until then.
Expertinall (National) - 16/06/2026 12:34:11
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Football Championship 2026 - 2 Like(s)
Replying To legendzxix: "I keep saying it. The qualifiers should come back. It only takes two knockout rounds for 23 or 24 teams to playoff for the 7 or 8 league qualifiers spots, depending on how far the Tailteann goes in their province.
If the qualifiers make a return, the Tailteann just needs to go straight knockout as all teams will have played at least two games already between provincial championship and qualifying rounds." 90%+ voted for the current system.
You seem to be the only one going back to the old Qualifier system!
Seanfan (National) - 16/06/2026 12:14:53
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Football Championship 2026 - 2 Like(s)
Replying To legendzxix: "I keep saying it. The qualifiers should come back. It only takes two knockout rounds for 23 or 24 teams to playoff for the 7 or 8 league qualifiers spots, depending on how far the Tailteann goes in their province.
If the qualifiers make a return, the Tailteann just needs to go straight knockout as all teams will have played at least two games already between provincial championship and qualifying rounds." Why should the qualifiers come back? Fair play to the 4 teams that got straight through to the quarter finals. The draw for this weekend has thrown up a few tasty fixtures. That's what the AI Series does. No preferencial treatment for any County. If you loose a match you pay the price of playing 3 weeks in a row, if you win this weekend.
Scenicparish (National) - 16/06/2026 12:04:07
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Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To legendzxix: "I keep saying it. The qualifiers should come back. It only takes two knockout rounds for 23 or 24 teams to playoff for the 7 or 8 league qualifiers spots, depending on how far the Tailteann goes in their province.
If the qualifiers make a return, the Tailteann just needs to go straight knockout as all teams will have played at least two games already between provincial championship and qualifying rounds." No definitely not.
What's working is brilliant.
eoinog (National) - 16/06/2026 14:33:44
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GAA Football Power Rankings 2026 - 1 Like(s)
How can Down be 18 and Donegal 5 ? lol
Donegal is definitely the whining capital of Ireland
suckvalleypaddy (National) - 16/06/2026 10:49:54
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Sunday Game - 1 Like(s)
Quite a bit of the analysis of the Louth v Armagh game on The Sunday Game was taken up with discussing the lack of a hooter, a match time clock and Hawkeye at the venue. Having Hawkeye at every county ground would cost €16 million. It's not feasible. I was at the game in Inniskeen and I didn't hear a hooter. However given the absolute pandemonium that broke out after the goal was scored that is understandable. What is unacceptable is for the Sunday Game commentators and panellists to say is that there was no match time clock present at the venue when there was a match time clock present showing exactly how much time had gone in the match. I took a photo of Sam Mulroy taking on Joe McElroy just before Sam shot .The match time clock is very clearly visible and says 69:56. It was very sloppy of RTÉ to spread misinformation on such an important issue.
Greengrass (National) - 16/06/2026 18:51:46
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To TrueBlue35: "I think the Parnell talk was Ger causing a bit of mischief and while I agree it would have stood us a better opportunity to win the game I don't feel it was ever going to be a runner.
There is more than enough motivation for Ger to get a tune out of our lads and McGuinness will be turning over every stone this week to get your lads back on track so it will make for fascinating viewing. The bookies have it at -3 which is probably about right. I think we would need almost everything to go right and Donegal would need to be a bit off it like last weekend. I'm not sure we have the ability to go to the well down the stretch with the game there for the taking. I hope I am proven wrong and part of me thinks that a crunch knockout game like this against a top side just might light a fire specifically in the lads who have multiple all irelands. If it doesn't and we bow out then so be it. If we don't get a decent start then I fear we will be picked off and Donegal could run out pretty comfortable winners." I agree, I think Parnell would have suited Dublin better.
But I am surprised Ger said it at all if Dublin weren't going to follow though with it. From the outside it looks like he wanted to play in Parnell but was over ruled by the CB.
Cbar (National) - 16/06/2026 11:44:11
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Roscommon GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To endgame: "That sums it up alright. A Connacht title is lovely but the shocking performance last Saturday has us gone before the business end of the All Ireland series. Monaghan v Westmeath in Clones will be interesting. The Lakemen will give it a better go than Roscommon did I'd say." You could live with losing but the manner of last Saturdays defeat is just shocking.
All the more so because we'd done so well up to that.
The Tyrone defeat was a close call which should have shaken off Connacht Final cobwebs.
Seanfan (National) - 16/06/2026 17:03:51
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Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To WanPintWin: "I wouldn't run him down, but it was the right call to take him off. He didn't seem at the pitch of the game. Aside from the throw-in, which he didn't really contest, a ball was played into him where he was out in front, but he was bullied off it by Charlie Drumm. He did get a hand on the kickout which led to Shane's goal, but the game was generally passing him by. McGrath did well when he replaced him.
On the throw-in, in fairness Connellan has a serious jump and a technique which bumps off the opposition player, Aussie Rules style. He did the same to Tierney for the throw-in at the start of the second-half.
I'd prefer to see D'Arcy contesting the throw-ins." Didn't realise that it was he who made that key intervention for the first goal. That was a big play, in fairness. We seemed to hit him with low fast ball early on, and he got bet ugly for one of them, which made him look out of his depth.
You'd imagine that with a unit that size in your inside line, fast low ball would be well down the list of ball supply options. Daly and Walsh found Tierney for 1-1 before HT with beautifully flighted high balls. Something similar into Fionn might have made him look better that the few fast low ones that he was cleaned out on.
Pope_Benedict (National) - 16/06/2026 16:22:32
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Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To legendzxix: "The current system at the All Ireland 16 stage is great. There needs to be more head to head clashes for the 7 league qualifier spots. Some teams are a bit too comfortable losing a provincial match and going straight through to the All Ireland series regardless." I disagree. NFL status is competitively fought for every season Jan-March, and imo presents the perfect framework to seed the Sam Maguire competition, as required for current Sam competition qualification.
Pope_Benedict (National) - 16/06/2026 16:13:39
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Lockjaw: " Replying To Fionn: "You are being economical with the truth there.
Take a look at the Donegal thread about this topic.
A lot of worked up Donegal posters.
<i>lots of good GAA people would have been disappointed because there would obviously not have been enough tickets available</i>.
This made me laugh tbh.
And don't forget the huge amount of neutrals who would have missed out also eh…?!
lol"</div>I fail to understand the point you are trying to make here?
Not one Donegal person I spoke to was spooked at the thought of going to Parnell from a purely footballing perspective.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, the only concern was about being able to attend the game, given that PP is significantly smaller than Croke Park." Why should it concern Dublin how many Donegal supporters can get tickets for a Dublin Home game ??? Or how many Neutrals can get tickets for that matter. Dublin, like every other county, need to put itself first. Disappointed the DCB didn't back Ger in that regard tbh. Fionn (National) - 16/06/2026 15:02:37
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Kerry Peaking At Right Time? - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Expertinall: "Incisive stuff, we will have to have a whip round, on here for your bookie. Hopefully they layed off a few to keep afloat, until then." Armagh be gone this weekend so no fear .
hlynch12 (National) - 16/06/2026 15:02:17
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Sunday Game - 1 Like(s)
Replying To mooncat: "I agree,I dont watch analysis either,I turn down the sound too on the hurling,Brendan Cummins shouting is annoying and its time Ger Canning retired." Watching matches with no sound is bizarre. The crowd noise, commentator describing the action and general match day sounds adds to the atmosphere of the occasion Each to their own but I would find that weird
richiepmurphy (National) - 16/06/2026 14:50:35
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Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Square_B: "Are you joking? The championship so far has been the best in possibly two decades. The drama in the last couple of weeks has been unheard of. The current system has the right amount of jeopardy, who would have thought Roscommon would be gone already and Mayo still in? Kerry facing down Armagh winner takes all for a space in the quarters! Long may it continue." Agreed, the added jeopardy is adding to it. Armagh were 2 seconds away from having a 2 week break and straight to the Quarter finals, but instead find themselves on the road against the All Ireland champions on Saturday - do or die.
Previous formats had too many dead rubbers, and the fact that the new rules have brought teams closer together is even better. Best championship we've had in years, and we're not even at the quarter final stages yet.
Cabbagepatch1667 (National) - 16/06/2026 14:05:40
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Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To WanPintWin: "I wouldn't run him down, but it was the right call to take him off. He didn't seem at the pitch of the game. Aside from the throw-in, which he didn't really contest, a ball was played into him where he was out in front, but he was bullied off it by Charlie Drumm. He did get a hand on the kickout which led to Shane's goal, but the game was generally passing him by. McGrath did well when he replaced him.
On the throw-in, in fairness Connellan has a serious jump and a technique which bumps off the opposition player, Aussie Rules style. He did the same to Tierney for the throw-in at the start of the second-half.
I'd prefer to see D'Arcy contesting the throw-ins." I agree! but as for other posters saying that Moycullen people thought he should be on first 15 doesn't tally with many of limited number of Moycullen people whom I talk to, many of them feel he is in the wrong code as he is a Fitzgibbon winner with UL also played previously with NUIG I don't recall seeing him on a Sigerson football team even though the late Don Connellan was involved in the NUIG management.Maybe its just the people I meet.My hope is any player who gets a chance does himself justice .
backtooldwall (National) - 16/06/2026 13:58:11
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Lockjaw: "That's nonsense.
Not one Donegal person I spoke to was "worked up".
The only concern was a valid one - lots of good GAA people would have been disappointed because there would obviously not have been enough tickets available." Donegal played Down in Letterkenny which has half the capacity of Ballybofey?
I'm sure a lot of good GAA people lost out given that the place was sold out and that there were 11,000 in Páirc Eislear the last time Donegal played Down there.
Anyway, Ger did not have backing of DCB . He can ask his hurling compatriots about that lack of support ...
BarneyGrant (National) - 16/06/2026 13:31:15
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